Water heater plastic plug

Excellent discussion with some really good information. Thanks all.

salem wrote:
I have an Atwood 6 ga. water heater. It uses a plastic plug as opposed to the Suburban heaters that use an anode rod. Talking among campers this morning one guy said he uses an anode rod in his Atwood tank, "Just to be safe." I'm certainly no expert, but I've never read on these forums that this is a good idea. Do any of you do this?

Not sure if this is high school chemistry or physics but it is HS science so we should all know it,, no need for a college degree (but I got one of those too)

Every element and every metal and alloy has a "Valiance" number.. Now It has been a long time since I took the class so I'd need to research it a bit to be detailed enough but I recall what they mean

Different metals react differently.. The metal used by Suburban in their tanks is fairly reactive with most water so they use a SACRIFICIAL anode to protect it .. The metal used by Atwood is far less reactive. and thus the anode is not only not needed.... it voids the warranty.

NOTE brass will react with the metal of the Atwood tank so brass plugs ALSO void the warranty.. This is why they use Nylon.

Will a Sacrificial anode bother the Atwood.. not sure (do not think so) but it voids so don't do it.

The plug is not plastic. It is nylon. Why do people constantly try to reinvent the wheel?

And the plastic plug works fine. I carry an extra so I'll never lose the original. It is small and light unlike the extra kitchen sink.

Tell your firend he is NOT being safe using an anode rod in his Atwood Aluminum Tank----which consists of a 15% thickness of type 7072 aluminum (pure aluminum and zinc) that is fused to the core during the rolling process.
THe ZINC Cladding provides the needed protection


Just because a product is SOLD via Aftermarket does NOT mean it is worthwhile, an improvement or necessary.

Atwood does NOT even have OEM ande rods..........that tells you NO!

BFL13: Good reading, thanks.

Suburban...steel tank, uses steel plug/anode. You don't want to put a steel plug anode in an aluminum tank, reason why Atwood uses a plastic plug.

Jerry

That what I was thinking, Sound Guy, thanks. So, what are the Suburbans made of. Metal?

No. Lots on that here:

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/30019014.cfm

salem wrote:
Talking among campers this morning one guy said he uses an anode rod in his Atwood tank, "Just to be safe."

Waste of time and $$. An Atwood water heater tank is aluminum and acts as it's own anode. Atwood doesn't recommend the use of an anode rod so why would you? :R